Why is Overcoming Alcohol Addiction So Hard?

Over time, a person may not be able to abstain from using ‘alcohol’ on a regular basis; and needs more and more of the ‘alcohol’ to achieve the same high, and begins to lose judgment about right and wrong in his/ her life.

Here is an explanation about the theory that may be helpful to understand the stages of change of overcoming alcohol addiction.

The first stage called the DENIAL.

In the denial stage, the person doesn’t agree to the fact that he has a drinking problem. He only finds ways to continue to consume alcohol despite the negative consequences just to feel high and better. In fact, no one can convince that he has a problem.

The second stage of change is called RUMINATION.

Rumination is a stage where the person admits that his drinking behaviour is problematic. Maybe he has gotten into a horrendous fight with a loved one, and he starts to realize that when he drinks, he loses inhibitions, and he says things he regrets. Or, maybe he just binged and/or purged, and he feels guilty, ashamed, and awful. But the wheels in his mind are beginning to turn. He starts to consider the negatives of what he is doing to himself. More importantly, he also realizes that he is missing out on a better way of life.
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During this preparation, he researches about support groups, professional help, or another close trusted friends who will be able to help them as he changes his habits. He may start working on cutting down the frequency and amount of our addictive behaviour.

Preparation happens when you decide to do something about changing your life for the better. At this point, you’ve decided that the negatives of what you’re doing to yourself outweigh whatever relief the behaviour brings.

The third Stage of Relapse

You don’t know what the statistics are for the number of tries it takes to stop drinking. Maybe or not, we’ve met some people who had very little trouble giving up drinking. But the numbers of those who relapse back into the habit are very high.

A Recent study on the drug relapse shows that more than 85% of the individuals within a year of treatment relapse and return to drug use behaviours.

The key, if and when you relapse, is to remember that you have a choice of which stage of change you are going to return to. You can go back into denial/pre-contemplation or rumination, or you can take the right action as below.

Taking an Action

When you take action, you’ve drawn the line in the sand. You’ve decided that you’ve had enough of what your behaviour is doing to you. You do whatever it takes. Going to counselling, going to support meetings, avoiding people/ places/things that make you more likely to relapse are all ways to take action.

Taking action also means embracing healthy alternatives to our problem behaviour. Once we start taking action, we have to maintain that change.

In other words, you have to start learning the lifestyle habits that will support your new and healthy behaviour choices. You may start exercising again; you may find out that you have much more time on your hands, now that you are not engaged in your addictive behaviour.

Now is the key time for you to reach out! Call your trusted friends, talk to your counsellor, go to your support groups! It took a long time for your problem behaviour to become a problem: it will take a long time to grow into a  new and healthy lifestyle!

Hope this theory might have better helped you in understanding why it’s not so easy for overcoming alcohol addiction. Oftentimes, it takes the strongest person to admit she/ he has a problem and to reach out for help. Don’t hesitate to make the positive changes you deserve!

It is Easier! Beating Alcohol Addiction through Treatment

Although many people worldwide grapple with overcoming alcohol addiction, only a small fraction of them seek treatment for breaking the addiction habit.

“Addiction is a chronic illness and not a behaviour problem”

How difficult it is to quit alcohol addiction may depend on the intensity and length of a person using the substance. The best and effective way to overcoming alcohol addiction is seeking help. There are plenty of options for alcohol addiction treatment.

After getting help through an alcohol de-addiction centre, you may turn to be a social drinker or best-case scenario, a non-drinker. Just imagine how healthy and clean life you will be leaving after you are free from alcoholism. You will be proud and make your family, friends proud of you after you eliminate alcohol from your life. You can control over alcohol addiction and live your dreams, lead the way.

We can help you. Do not hesitate to call us today. Contact now at 96111 94949 or visit us at Cadabam’s Anunitha.